Bulldozing tractor



July 1954 I I R. G. LE TOURNEAU ,318

BULLDOZING TRACTOR Filed June 4, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet l Fla.

INVENTOR. R G. LE TOUR/V010 AGENT July 13, 1954 R. 6. LE TOURNEAU BULLDOZING TRACTOR Filed June 4, i949 INVENTOR. R G. LETOURNfiAU July 13, 1954 R. G. LE TOURNEAU ,6 8

7 BULLDOZING TRACTOR Filed June 4, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 3

I II

I I l H I J.

I III I INVENTOR.

R 6. LfTouRA/mu July 13, 1954 R. 6. LE TOURNEAU 8 BULLDOZING TRACTOR Filed June 4, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 4

IN V EN TOR.

R G. LETOURNEAU BY y 3, 1954 R. G. LE TOURNEAU 2,683,318

BULLDOZING TRACTOR Filed June 4, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR. R G LE7bUR/VEAU Y AGENT Patented July 13, 1954 BULLDO'ZING TRACTOR Robert G. fLefiTonrneau, Longviem-Z'Ifem, assignm- :to R.-;G. Le flourneau, mo t-Peoria, Ill,,:-1a .eormoratiomof California 7 Application June 4, 1949," SerialNo. 97;12-1

One object -is"to',.produce a machine in which thewheehspindlesare supported in spaced ibear mgsiinrigidhousings :attached-totut extending beynn'd the side-"wallsxif the'machine.

'Amother '.orb,je;ct is ".to produce a finachine with an "improved final case which is accurate and rigid and'zone in which the "internal gears ;are inserted through :atminimum of open n which in its.lf'.simp1ifiesfthe construction of "the .case and the. assembly of'the ifin-ished product.

' An additional 'ob'ject'iisjtogproduce an-improved machine which employs 1a self containediboltedon transmission in lieu. oftthe formergmethod of installing "the complete transmission .within the walls'of the final case. "This'feature' contributes greatly tovthe maintenance .sincelif troribleide- 1/1 VBIOPS, the entire transmission .;canfbe removed Without .remov'ing "bearingsrror disturbing the Wheeldriveconnections. a

Y'AIur'ther .objectqis to producea tractor which contains its own .electricall Jsystem, which 'in- :9.

eludes -a'iheai yillitygenerator mounted .directly to and .in. Hue with the -.engine crankshaft, ,and an electric winch to utilize the.o'utp11t of the generator and ,be located. at the point .o'fupower applica'tion, andla plurality of transformer-rem 4 Claims. (0]. 137-144) tifier ..contro1,syst.ems..in which l'the .recltifiers are 7 immersed .in oil ;for..co'oling.and 1tQtp1 event-corrosion; thetrectifier'jhousing .herelhe'inglan integral part of the tractor .Iframeso that ayry large i heats radiation area: is .present. 7

JA; stilli'further .objectis to provide a machine of this type which contains a detachable Aeframe whicliisiboltedltolthezjfinal caselinauiouel man-- which .may be. remoye'd to permitinstallation of other. tools. orsaccessories; for-instance, a

afllogg'ingarhior airameiorsupporting controls Iona idrawn scraper.

Yeteanother- :object a. is :to produce :a machine of this=typewhich includes a, itwolciutch lcpmtlol steering system and in which one of theiclutches is utilized to 1 provide an emergency :er parking brake.

-A further-obj ect of the invention is to-produce a :simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be-exceedingly eifective for the purpose for which it-is designed.

These objects'I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the -following specifications and claims. Y

in :the drawing similar characters --of reference indicate correspondingparts in the several-syiews; I v

:Figure 1 is a side elevation cf the complete machine, with the left side wheelsremoved, and the blade partially cut away.

{Figure is aplan view-of the improvedmachine.

{Figure 3 anendview of the -ma'c hine "looking at *the normally front end, with 'the *blade and cable system partially cutaaway.

*Figure 4 {is a -*plan --view, partly in schematic, of *the final case detached "except fortransmission, generator, :a-nd-engine. 1

Figure-*5 is "a detailed-plan view of the emergencybra-ke structure with floor bOQJfdTEIl'lOVGd.

Figure 6 is a'side'elevation,partially in section, showing the. brake installed within the steering -clutch" housing, and under the floor board.

.iReferring now more particularly to the characters of ,I'GfGIQIlOB on the ;drawing, this bulldozin'gtractor comprises amain'frameihwhich consists of 'upstandinggear .cases "2 spaced laterally from each otherby means ofirontspacert, rear engine mount structure handtransverse wallsifi and, B whichto ether with topand bottomiplate .(not..shown); form h n (Major the; ste rin clutches. The addition of internal walls I to the transverse ,walls :5 .and jt .provides .an oil ,case, 8 in which the outputpinionelajfrom.the transmis- Sion and v.the vJoeyel .ri-ng .gear. .49 may operate-to drive .cross shaft jll-Liournalled .at. I13 .and .ultimatelywheels Ill.

- ..-'Ihe..g.ear cases .2 $3,118 constructed in theiorm ofgaulong .rectangular. -boxvwith open ends. The

7 inside yerticahdimension of this-case is slightly larger than the :final :drive gears which operate therein. 'Tl'iese gearsare inserted t-throu'ghwthe open ends. which are surrounded and reinforced hyia gasket fiange zil. When the; gearsmre in place, cover; plate-:or: end :wall; it is-instaHed and .Securedto i'flangeevby capscrews-,;3a. This; provides a -;rem0vable :section With .-,.:a min mum 7 opening through ;:Which the :-;gears may 1 :be inscrted. epsizenand gzlecation. of the schemin here does not adversely affect the rigidity of the case. In the earlier mentioned application No. 727,804, the wheel hubs are larger than the gears and were bolted (by capscrews) to the main case after the gears were inserted through the large opening in the side walls of the case which the wheel hubs covered. This large opening had a tendency to weaken the side walls, and another more detrimental characteristic of permitting the alignment of outer and inner bearings of the stub axles of the wheels to be dependent upon to tension of the capscrews, the uniformity of the gasket between the wheel hub and the case side wall, the tolerance between the capscrew and hole, and other factors. In the present machine, this condition has been greatly improved by wheel hubs I I which are welded as at 50 to the case around a relatively smaller opening I. The outer and inner bearing cages 52 are then machined at the same time and on the same machine so that they are in perfect alignment with each other. The hubs I I also contain brake backing plates 61 welded thereto at 68 for association with the wheel brakes 69. Bearings I I4 are inserted in aligned cages 52.

Another feature on this machine is the unitary transmission I2. This transmission is constant mesh with exposed clutch units I3 and is of the same general type as that shown in copending application No. 735,484, filed March 18, 1947, now U. S. Patent 2,553,376 granted May 15, 1951. In that application, as in the previously referenced application No. 727,804, the gears were installed within a housin made by transverse walls in the vehicle frame and the clutch units were on shafts which projected through one of those walls. In the present instance the gear case is a compact circular housing I I in which all the forward and reverse gears are installed in their proper mesh. Shafts 53 for the clutch units project through the outer wall 54 and the inner wall 55 has openings for the input shaft 56 and output shaft 51. The inner wall also supports the bearings for the various shafts. The complete transmission is capable of being assembled separately, in another factory, if desired, and then installed on final case during assembl of this tractor.

An engine I5 with its protective hood IG- and radiator structure mount structure 4 including side members 58 which are welded to the inner-side walls of gear cases 2 (Fig. l). The engine crankshaft contains a flywheel in housing 59 which connects directly to the rotor of an in-line generator I8. The shaft I50 of generator I8 in turn connects to an extension shaft GI which projects through oil case 8 and connects to shaft 55 to provide the input power to transmission I2. Both ends of extension shaft 5% include flanges 82 for attachment to similar flanges of shafts 55 and 65.

' Generator I8 provides the necessary electric current to operate the hoist winch It. This winch in its entirety consists of motor 25, brake unit 2i, gear box 22, and cable drum 23. The drum pays out or reels in cable of the block and tackle system 2 3 which in turn raises or lowers blade Anoyel A-frame indicated generally as 26 supports two sheaves $3 and 6d of this block and tackle system. Figs. 1 and 3 show the particular configuration of this A-frame to consist of a sheave housing 21 supported by and between two oblique trapezoid-shaped supports 23 welded at their lower end to mounting plates 29. These mounting plates contain longitudinally spaced bolt holes 65 for mounting to bolt blocks 30 of side II are mounted on engine cases 2. By this spacing the back bolt 3 I a of bolts (capscrews) 3i will have a long leverage for resisting the forward tilting tendency of the upstanding portion of A-frame 26 due to the weight and direction of pull of block and tackle system 24.

This A-frame 26 is an improvement over that shown in co-pending application No. 33,570, filed June 17, 1948 now United States Patent No. 2,624,961 granted January 13, 1953, which was welded to the machine case. This method of attachins by d ng) the upr ghts of the A-frame, while sufficient in itself to support the load, had a detrimenta1 tendency to warp or buckle the case which is overcome by the spaced bolts of the present design. The present A-frame also is equipped with a winch mounting plate 32 and a dead end rod 33. Thi mounting plate supports the pow-er controls for operating the hoist cable and thus makes the A-frame a removable unitary structure and provides for rapid assembly or disassembly by simply removing bolts 3|, cable system 24, and the electric wiring (not shown) to winch I9. This is a valuable consideration in case the tractor were to be used for other operations besides bulldozing, in which case the A- frame would be completely removed and the new tool, i. e. logging arch, drawn scraper rigging, etc., installed by way of the same mounting blocks. To assist in night operations, a headlight assembly 34 has been installed above and upstanding from the A-frame. The dead end rod 33 previously referred to takes the stress out of the cable just prior to anchor 35; this prevents the normal tendency of the cable to pull out of its anchor.

The electrical system of this machine employs a voltage regulating system such as that shown in my granted Patent 2,482,588 and also a battery charging circuit such as that shown in application No. 49,737, filed September 17, 1948, and now abandoned. On this machine, the rectifiers of both these circuits are contained in and supported by the same housing 36. This housing is circular in shape including cylindrical side wall 36a. and completely enclosed and is filled with oil to cool the reotifiers and protect them against corrosion. The bottom of this rectifier housing is integral with a bottom plate 41 which is part of the main frame, so that the heat absorbed by the oil may be radiated over a very large area.

The steering of this vehicle is similar to that shown in my copending application No. 764,185, filed July 28, 1947 now United States Patent No. 2,615,542 granted October 28, 1952, in which steering is accomplished by disengaging one of the air controlled steering clutches 46 so thatno power is delivered to the wheels on that side.

Use is made of one of the steering clutches in this tractor to provide emergency braking means. This brake structure may be seen in Figs. 5 and 6 to consist of split brake bands 3'! anchored at one end by adjustment screw 33 and connected at their other end to tightening linkage 39. This linkage is connected to brake pedal linkage which is pivoted to brake pedal M as .at Ill. Ratchets 42 of this brake pedal slide by rigid post 43 of the floor board structure when the brake pedal II is depressed in normal operating procedure. When the operators foot is removed from the pedal, the ratchets thereon will lock against post 43 if a slight downward pressure is applied and the entire brake unit then acts as a parking brake. If a slight upward pressure is applied to pedal II, then the pedal and lever 49 return to their initial position due to the tension placed on spring 45.

s lsExamining'fthe ahrakeestructure in: moreefdetail itwzill beziseenithatitherbandsa31 finelu'dera ibrake lining H which wheniactnatede will rgrab :Ztheireviolvingexternal: case I -12 rof izthexssteeringi :clutoh ihwi-th :which*dt-irisxassociatcd. iilhe steering clutch itself is elocated cclosely 1 adj acentritrmasthe handle -1-'l:-may zbe=tightenedonv'bolt 78 to draw lugs 14 and 14a together and thereby effect an adjustment of the brake. The entire 310M791 group' of 'ban'ds"3Tand'adjustment screw;1'38 are restingonthe "heads"83"iof bolts. 8| whichiare threaded intmabottom 'plate 7.82 which extends between walls 5" and 'fixunder'clutch 4B. A. nut

83 is threaded "onto'b'olt '8! and acts tolo'ck' ithe latter in a-vertically adjustable position. (At

whi'ch arepivoted"links'85 and'i86; link 85 is in turnpivoted toarm'B'l, whereas link 86 is rigid with'arm"81. rrrm"81 is/then, pivoted to Iinki BB which .isp'ivotedinturn to piece 89 which is rigid"with""square "bar90which is rigid with brake'pe'daI linkage 40"bu't which is pivoted to bracket 9| attached to wall 6. On each side of ears 84 are stops 92 and 92a which are threaded at one end 93 which end extends through transverse wallsv 5 and 6 for engagement with nut 94.

An upper opening 95 in wall 6 permits linkage 39 to extend therethrough, and a lower opening 96 provides access to handle 11 to adjust the brake bands. With clutch 46 rotating in the direction shown by arrow R, the ear 84a will be adjacent stop 92a and whenbrake pedal M is depressed the other ear 84 will travel toward 84a. When the direction of rotation (R) is reversed,

the ear 84 will move toward stop 92 and linkage 40 and 39, then act to force ear 84a toward ear 84. has been provided a simple, eflicient, easily adjustable brake which may also be locked in place to prevent the vehicle from rolling when parked.

Most conventional steering clutches which in- I clude brake bands to assist steering will retard speed in either direction of rotation, but none are known which'have been adapted specifically for a parking brake, and it is not believed they could be so adapted, since they do not employ stops for both directions of rotation as herein described. 7

Another feature of this tractor is the modification of the push beam mounts indicated generally at I00, and comprising a T-shaped mounting arm Hll disposed withthe T head I92 thereof adjacent and extending horizontally lengthwise of the corresponding'under-side of gear case 2 and is journalled at opposite ends in bosses or bearings I03 on the'bottom of gear case 2. Each T- shaped arm I ill is thus mounted for limited vertical swinging adjustment and normally projects laterally outwardly in substantially centralized relation between the tires of the adjacent front "and rear wheels. 7

Each T-shaped mounting arm llll is normally maintained in rigid but vertically adjustable relation by an adjustment rod I04 which extends at an upwardly and inwardly incline from a piv otal connection I05 on the arm through a bracket But for either direction of rotation there 7 I answers alflfi on thezupperxedge "portion of theggear (0859i 2 Adjustment nuts illl'li-are threaded on the upper end zportion of eachxrod l 04 on ODDOSitG SidGSJJOI the bracket 106, wherebyadjustment-of-suchnuts effects longitudinal shifting of the-rod H34 iand corresponding vertical adjustment of the T- shaped mounting arm "Nil. .Therear ends :of the push-beams 108 are coupled to "the correspondingouter ends of the T-shaped mounting arms will! 'zbyz'iball and rsocket units '109. This mounting' will permit the :arms l0l,' when::disconnected from-sockets H19 and "when the main frame I is'disconnectedfrom the wheels HI (as inFig. dyiandadjustment rod I04, toibe swung under the :main frame'sov as :not to *projecttlaterally outward fI'OIl'i'lthe' gear'cases 2 and-beyond flanged wheel spindle 9% would be apparent fromiFigtZ. when 'swung under the mainframe the packagedimensionsof thetractor are reduced and shippingis thus simplified.

From'the foregoing description' it'will be readily seen thatl have produced such a device :as. :substantially fulfills thBLObjECtS of theinv'entioniaas set forth? herein.

While this specification sets forth in'd'etailithe present and'preferred construction ofithisfibulldozing tractor, still in practice such deviations from such detail may. be :resorted to as do not form :a'depar'ture from the spirit of theiinvention, as defined'in the; appended claims.

:iE-Iaving' thus described :my invention, "what *I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A bulldozing tractor having a rigid main frame containing laterally spaced wheel drive gear cases and a blade pivotally supported on the frame for vertical movement comprising: transversely spaced push beams attached to the blade and extending rearwardly along and spaced from opposite sides of the frame, an A-frame removably fastened to spaced bolt blocks mounted on the inner walls of said gear cases, an electric winch mounted to and supported by said A-frame, and a cable control system connecting the electric winch and said bulldozer blade in operable relation.

2. In combination, a tractor having a rigid main frame, a bulldozer blade disposed transversely ahead of the frame, transversely spaced push beams attached to the blade and extending rearwardly along and spaced from opposite sides of the frame, the rear ends of said push beams being pivotally associated with the frame whereby said transverse blade may be moved in aivertical direction, an A-frame removably fastened to the main frame at its forward end, and. power means operatively connecting said A- frame and said transverse blade to raise said a blade in a vertical direction; said A-frame comprising laterally spaced longitudinally extending mounting plates, bolt holes in said plates spaced a substantial distance apart in a longitudinal direction, and bolts in said bolt holes removably attaching said A-frame to said main frame, upwardly inclined trapezoid shaped supports attached to said mounting plates, a sheave housing, between said supports at their upper end, sheaves in said sheave housing, a sheave housing on the rear side of said transverse blade, sheaves in said blade housing, a winch mount plate attached to and depending from the under side ofone trapezoid sup-port, a rod connected between said winch mount plate and the other trapezoid support and a cable anchor on said other trapezoid support; and an electric winch supported from said winch mount plate, a cable power controlled by said winch and reeved between said support sheaves and said blade sheaves in such a manner as to form a block and tackle reeving, and said cable wound around said rod and secured in said anchor.

3. A unitary A-frame for attaching to a tractor frame comprising obliquely positioned supports, a mounting plate at the bottom of each support, longitudinally spaced bolt holes in said mounting plates to permit removable attachment to said tractor frame, a sheave housing attached to and connecting the upper ends of said supports, sheaves in said housing, a winch mount plate attached to one support, an electric winch supported by said winch mount plate, and a cable on said winch and operated thereby, said cable adapted to be reeved between said sheaves and a cable operated device, and means on said support to anchor the free end of said cable.

4. A bulldozing tractor having a rigid main frame and a blade pivotally supported on the frame for vertical movement comprising: an A-frame removably fastened to the main frame at its forward end; power means connected to the A-frame and adapted for raising and lowering the blade; said A-frame comprising laterally spaced longitudinally extending mounting plates, a pair of supports attached to the plates and extending upwardly and obliquely therefrom, and a sheave containing housing supported by and connecting said supports at the apex of the A- frame; a sheave containing housing on the blade; a winch mount plate depending from one of said supports and having a winch thereon; a deadend rod connecting the winch mount plate and the other support; a sheave in each of said sheave containing housings; a cable anchor on said other support; said power means comprising a Winch controlled cable reeved between the sheaves on the supports and the sheaves on the blade for raising and lowering said blade, said cable being wound around said rod and secured in said anchor.

References Cited in the file of this patent I UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,215,127 Dungey Feb. 6, 1917 1,739,352 Choate Dec. 10, 1929 2,080,740 Patterson May 18, 1937 2,164,300 Smith June 27, 1939 2,166,105 Flynn et a1. July 18, 1939 2,169,606 I-Iutchins et a1 Aug. 15, 1939 2,215,025 Austin Sept. 17, 1940 2,219,249 Blagden et a1. Oct. 22, 1940 2,239,822 Larsen et a1 Apr. 29, 1941 2,239,824 LeTourneau Apr. 29, 1941 2,244,063 Hobart June 3, 1941 2,375,801 LeTourneau May 15, 1945 2,434,693 Graham Jan. 20, 1948 

